The Women's Bible Commentary, Carol A. Newsom, Sharon H. Ringe

Leaven Article 16

Volume 4
Issue 2 Women and Ministry

1-1-1996

The Women's Bible Commentary, Carol A.
Newsom, Sharon H. Ringe

Ronald L. Tyler

[email protected]

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Tyler, Ronald L. (2012) "The Women's Bible Commentary, Carol A. Newsom, Sharon H. Ringe," Leaven: Vol. 4: Iss. 2, Article 16.
Available at: http://digitalcommons.pepperdine.edu/leaven/vol4/iss2/16

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Tyler: The Women's Bible Commentary, Carol A. Newsom, Sharon H. Ringe

Women and Ministry 55

Book Reviews
Markus McDowell,
Editor

Carol A Newsom and Sharon H. Ringe, editors, The Women Interpret the Bible" as an orientation before
Women's Bible Commentary (London: SPCK using this commentary.
Westminster/John Knox Press, 1992), reviewed by
Ronald L. Tyler. Each book is briefly introduced with a discus-
sion of contemporary critical issues and a summary
Carol Newsom, Old Testament professor at of its content. The introduction is followed by brief
Candler School of Theology at Emory University and comments on those portions relevant to, or about,
Sharon Ringe, New Testament professor at Wesley women, including the presence (or absence) ofwomen,
Theological Seminary, have edited the first scholarly marriage customs, family contexts, rights of women
commentary written by female Biblical scholars. at that time, and various relationships of women
Recent years have seen an incredible growth in with men and their culture. Here information is
feminist biblical studies. This 396-page commen- often found which is not in other commentaries.
tary, written by forty-one women, is a product of that After reading another commentary, check the treat-
movement. To read the list of contributors is to be ment ofthe book in this volume, and you will be in for
introduced to some of the world's leading women some surprises-some intimidating and some excit-
interpreters drawn from Catholic, Protestant, and ing. Cited on the dustjacketis a reviewer's comment
Jewish traditions. from the Library Journal: "This commentary will
raise eyebrows, and it will raise consciousness as
The editors admit being inspired by a two- well." Select bibliographies are included for each
volume work done in 1895-1898 by Elizabeth Cady book. These bibliographies, naturally, stress women's
Stanton (The Woman's Bible), but recall that it did contributions.
not have academically trained women willing to
write for it. They have followed Stanton's model of Amy-Jill Levine's contribution on Ruth is
commenting mainly on those passages relating to one of the best treatments of Ruth available. She
women. gives a solid overview of the book and does not
hesitate to interpret chapter 3 as a "seduction" with
In addition to covering each book of the Old Ruth uncovering, not Boaz's "feet" but his "genitals."
and New Testaments and the Apocrypha (the Apoc- Her study properly rescues Ruth from being labeled
rypha in one chapter), the commentary includes "A Love Story," and then misread and misused.
some brief essays: the editors' Introduction, Sharon
Ringe, "When Women Interpret the Bible", Carol Gail O'Day's study of the fourth gospel re-
Meyers, "Everyday Life: Women in the Period ofthe veals the important role that women play in the
Hebrew Bible", Amy Wordelman, "Everyday Life: Jesus story. Especially interesting is her treatment
Women in the Period of the New Testament", and of the role of women in the resurrection of Jesus.
Deirdre Good, "Extracanonical Writings." These Correctly observing that all the gospels underscore
essays consider the lives of women in the biblical that it was women who came early Sunday morning
period, women in early Christian writings outside to the tomb, she stresses Mary Magdalene in the
the canon, and modern feminist readings of the story. I first became aware of the importance of
Bible. I urge you to read the Introduction and "When women in the Johannine resurrection story reading
B. F. Westcott's, The Revelation of the Risen

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Leaven, Vol. 4 [2012], Iss. 2, Art. 16

56 Leaven, Spring, 1996

Lord, 1902, wherein he showed the revelation was to tation in the modern-day re-enactment of the Last
love. O'Day develops this in a different, but informa- Supper. Jesus' proclamation in Mark 14:9 that
tive, direction. "wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world,
what she has done will be told in memory of her" is
O'Day also did the study of Acts, which will forgotten along with her name and remembrance of
be of special interest to Leaven readers. A mention her faithfulness. For Schussler Fiorenza, women's
of her topics will give you some flavor of what to history in the early church is a lost and forgotten
expect: women believers in the early church, asides history resulting from androcentrism (a male bias in
about women, women and ministry in the early reading and interpreting the text). In Memory of
church, Ananias and Sapphira, the raising of Tabitha, Her seeks to revive the place of women otherwise
Rhoda .at the gate, the women at Philippi, Priscilla overlooked and/or down-played in the early church.
and Aquila, Acts and women's experience, women's It also endeavors to rediscover women in the patriar-
roles, and women's futures. chal world of the Bible to "not only restore early
Christian history to women but also [to) lead to a
Jouette M. Bassler's study of 1 Corinthians richer and more accurate perception of early Chris-
will also be of special interest to readers of Leaven. tian beginnings."
Regarding 1 Corinthians 14:34-35, which she labels
"silence," you will find a clear statement of the prob- Recognizing that the New Testament text
lem these verses represent, followed by a listing of was written according to androcentric presupposi-
the major interpretations given. She opts for their tions, Schussler Fiorenza approaches the context of
being a marginal gloss. the biblical text affirming the theological principle of
inclusiveness within the early church. Inclusiveness
Any student-male or female-interested in in Christianity allows for a greater acceptance of
an overview of a given book of the Bible or Apocrypha women and an expansion of their roles. Though the
and/or those portions wherein women are central text may be silent on the whereabouts of women and
should have access to this volume. You will not their specific roles within the church, Schussler
always agree with what you read but you will always Fiorenza casts New Testament women in a funda-
be stimulated and you will learn. And what more can mentally new light. She not only focuses on the
you ask from a one-volume commentary!

Ronald L. Tyler teaches New Testament studies at concrete biblical details about women, but she often
Pepperdine University, Malibu, California. contemplates some creative possibilities. These pos-
sibilities do not always have comprehensive evidence

to support them, which may discourage the reader.

Elisabeth Schussler Fiorenza, In Memory of Her, A Nevertheless, through reading In Memory of Her,
Feminist Theological Reconstruction of Chris- we are challenged to remember the phenomenal
tian Origins (New York: The Crossroad Publishing women who labored, preached, housed Christians,
Company, 1983) 357 pp. $17.95, reviewed by Christy and held significant leadership roles within the early
Atler. church.

In Memory of Her is written for a specific

The quest for identity predominates the his- audience, namely those who seek to challenge their
tory of the restorationist tradition, many Sunday perceptions of women in Christianity. Restoring
morning lessons, and even the strand of feminism women's history to the hands of Christian women is
threaded through churches across the country today. a challenge for the modern-day church and not a
For many individuals, the church represents a means struggle for women alone. In Memory of Her helps
for discovering their identity. For many women to revive the place of women in Christian history and
especially, the desire to unveil and rediscover the forces us to look at the texts in newfound ways.

role of women in the early church expresses an Christy Atler, a religion major, graduated from
urgent need to embrace a female identity. Seaver College, Pepperdine University in April. She
begins graduate study this fall at Harvard Divinity
Elisabeth Schussler Fiorenza in 1983 pub- School.
lished In Memory of Her, A Feminist Theologi-
cal Reconstruction of Christian Origins, which

voices her criticisms concerning the exclusion of (Editor's Note): A tenth anniversary edition of In

women's history and her re-examination of early Memory of Her was published in 1993. This review

church history. Schussler Fiorenza states that the of her earlier work underscores the importance of

void of women in church history is manifested by the Schussler Fiorenza's place in New Testament stud-
treatment of the story of the woman who anointed ies as well as the debate surrounding this crucial but

Jesus' head with oil, a story which has little represen- debatable study.

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